A screening of obsessive-compulsive disorder in medical students in Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi hospital

Abstract

Objective To study a prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and correlates in medical students in Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi hospital

Method A cross-sectional study was done in 692 medical students who were the first year to the fifth year students in Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi hospital. The Thai version of the Florida Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory questionnaire (FOCI-T) was used as screening of OCD and the Thai version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used as screening of OCD. Demographic data, the various problems of medical students, and depression were analyzed to find and association to OCD

Results The prevalence of probable OCD was 26.7%. The highest prevalence was found in sophomore (36.2%). OCD was associated with various problems as follows: educational problem (OR = 2.56; p < 0.001), friendship problem (OR = 2.25; p = 0.003), financial problem (OR = 1.93; p = 0.035), problem with boyfriend/girlfriend (OR = 2.31; p = 0.007), problem with teacher (OR = 3.29; p = 0.026) and health problem (OR = 2.90; p < 0.001). Furthermore, OCD was associated with risk of depression (OR = 3.80; p < 0.001) and the severity of depression (correlation coefficient = 0.42). The most common obsession and compulsion were losing something valuable (75.1%) and repeatedly asking for reassurance (61.1%), respectively.

Conclusions Probable OCD was more frequent in medical students than in the general population. The highest prevalence was found in sophomore. OCD was associated with depression and various problems as follows: educational problem, friendship problem, financial problem, problem with boyfriend/girlfriend, problem with teacher, and health problem.

Keyword Screening, obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD, medical student, FOCI-T